Cranston Zoning Fun: The Great Wall of Nothing

Here’s a storefront on one of Auburn’s main thoroughfares, Pontiac Avenue. This is a street-facing facade, seen by hundreds of pedestrians and motorists daily, right in the heart of the neighborhood. I guess there’s a peculiar chain-pharmacy architectural standard that precludes the use of windows, but this example seems very Cold War.

Nothing says, “Hey, come on in, we’re open!” like a 16 foot cinder block wall. Remember to show a valid passport at the magnetic security device on your way in. And by the way, you’re on closed circuit TV.

In fairness, this Monument of Welcomeness is the work of Brooks/Maxi Drug, which only recently sold their stores to Rite Aid. The former drugstore chain was a notorious zoning ordinance bully.

On the other hand, had windows actually been included in the original facade, they’d probably be plastered with neon sales flyers anyway.